The HIV Wasting Syndrome

Wasting syndrome is a common complication of HIV disease. Wasting can be secondary to HIV infection itself, but is also commonly associated with opportunistic infections (OIs) and HIV-related cancers. Weight loss often foreshadows the onset of an AIDS-defining illness before other clinical manifestations are apparent.

Wasting in AIDS is similar to wasting in cancer cachexia and other serious illness. These syndromes involve dysregulation of metabolism, characterized by catabolism, preferential loss of lean body mass over fat, and, conversely, preferential gain of fat over lean mass when enteral or parenteral therapy is used. This continuous loss of cell mass and negative nitrogen balance promotes progression of AIDS and can hasten death.

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